Valley Pavlik fans in N.J. celebrate big
Pavlik Party
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Shaking hands, hugging fans and smiling for the camera is something Youngstown’s newly crowned Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik is going to have to get used to — at least if his fans have anything to say about it.
Mere minutes after Pavlik knocked out former Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor in the seventh round of a title fight in Atlantic City, fans filled the lobby bar of Ballys Hotel where the fighter was staying. About 5,000 Youngstowners made the trip to see the fight and as many as possible squeezed into that hotel lobby space.
The boxer did not actually make an appearance in the hotel until about two hours after the fight, but the celebratory alcohol and pro-Youngstown chants started immediately and lasted until hotel security began clearing a path after 4 a.m.
Most Pavlik fans wore what had become the almost mandatory white “Team Pavlik” T-shirt. Those who had not secured a T-shirt fashioned some symbol of support such as a ghost or ghost costume out of other material.
Jamie Sharp, who was sharing post-fight beers with a group of friends in the hotel lobby outside the bar, said she had more reason than ever to wear the Pavlik after being rebuffed for doing so earlier in the evening.
“Nobody thought he was going to do it,” she said. “Someone told me earlier that champions don’t have fans who wear shirts with their name on them. Well, our champ has T-shirts.”
For complete story, see Monday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.